The Cutting Edge

FRESH HELP AT INB. A warm welcome to Ted R. Bradley, a former professor at George Mason
University, now retired and volunteering his services at INB on a full-time basis. Ted was the director of
the GMUF herbarium, where he specialized on Campanulaceae (Triodanis, with just one sp. in Costa
Rica). Lately he has been working on identifications of Poaceae, chipping away at a considerable backlog
that has accumulated.

DRESSLER’S IN RESIDENCE. Manual Orchidaceae coordinator Robert L. Dressler (FLAS,
MO) has been working as a guest researcher (with salary) at the Jardín Botánico Lankester,
outside of Cartago, since mid-March. Bob and his wife, photographer Kerry Dressler, will
be at Lankester for at least a full year, with the possibility of extending their stay even further. Thanks
to Manual correspondent Mario Blanco (FLAS) for this news.

TSUNAMI SURVIVOR RESURFACES. Manual Marantaceae contributor Helen Kennedy (UBC) rode
her wave into Costa Rica on 1 July and left for Panama on 18 July, hoping to tie up a few loose ends for
her Flora mesoamericana manuscript. While in Costa Rica, she visited some of her usual haunts:
Cerro Azahar, near San Ramón, in the company of Barry Hammel and Isabel
Pérez; La Suiza de Turrialba and Cerro de La Muerte, with Alexánder
Rojas; and the Tarrazú region, with Barry, Isabel, and Francisco Morales.
We will probably still be awash in Helen’s usual infectious enthusiasm when she rolls back through
the country on 5 August for a few more days, before returning to Canada.

NEW EDITOR AT LANKESTER. We have just received notification from Jorge Warner, director
of the Jardín Botánico Lankester, that Franco Pupulin has resigned his position
as editor of the excellent house journal Lankesteriana in order to devote more time to his research
agenda. Taking up the mantle will be the equally capable Carlos O. Morales, to whom we
offer congratulations and best wishes.